Lots of Kids, a Monkey and a Castle #KVIFF2017 - Gustavo Salmerón

 Possibly the funniest and most charming documentary of the year

Gustavo Salmerón presented his directorial feature debut, Lots of Kids, a Monkey and a Castle, in the documentary films competition of the 52nd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. For his feature, Salmerón turned the camera towards his mother, as well as his family as a whole, whom he filmed for 14 years. The result of this lengthy filming process was 400 hours worth of material, which was then shaped into possibly the most charming and funniest documentary of the year. Indeed, the film is so funny that in his introduction to the movie of this interview, Salmerón calls it a “comedy” before mentioning the word “documentary.” In this interview, Salmerón talks in detail about the production, and what his mother’s reaction to this movie has been (“she doesn’t understand why this film has been selected for festivals,” he tells us). Salmerón also tells us about his background as an actor and why he decided to make a movie, as well as his ambitions of eventually making a downright fiction feature.

Gustavo Salmerón

 Lots of Kids, a Monkey and a Castle: Julita always wanted lots of kids, a monkey, and a castle. After finally realizing these wishes, however, her family loses their property in the economic crisis. But they have not lost the disarming ease and kindheartedness that mark their domestic squabbling. A film chronicle with elements of absurd humor that serves as a madcap allegory for the contemporary situation in Spain.